Coach is too hot for the Chilli Boys

The news that Ernst Middendorp was to replace Roger Sikhakhane as the next manager of South African outfit Chippa United, means the club has now made an astonishing 12 coaching changes in just three seasons.

The Chilli Boys first attracted attention in the 2011/12 season when won promotion to the top-flight with Sikhakhane in charge.

However, before the season even started, he was fired, to be replaced by Manqoba Mngqithi.

He lasted just two games before before being replaced by Julius Dube who took over as caretaker coach before being shown the door a month later.

Sikhakhane returned, but lasted just 15 days before Farouk Abrahams came in. But, after a bright start Abrahams was succeeded by Wilfred Mugeyi.

The Zimbabwean was fired, leaving Mark Harrison to try (but fail) to avert relegation with just two games left.

The Englishman resigned not long into the following season, with Ian Palmer taking over the reigns.

Vladislav Heric replaced him in January 2013 and led the team back to the PSL, but despite this success there was no offer of a new contract. Instead, the ever popular and seemingly always available Sikhakhane took over once again as new coach while Kosta Papic awaited his work-permit, but the Serbian soon went the way of his predecessors – out the front door.

Once again the club turned to Sikhakhane who took the club up to eighth place in the table, but for Chippa Mpengesi, the club’s sack-happy chairman, that was not enough.

Mpengesi is an enterprising person whose fledgling business career began when he started collecting unreturned supermarket trolleys in Cape Town and then sold them back to the Pick ‘n Pay retailer. He has since gone from strength to strength and now employs 3000 people, although how many of those retain any form of job security remains unclear.

One amusing anecdote relating to Mpengesi involves a time he was quizzed by a local journalist.

The Chippa United owner was asked: “Is it true that your the sole bread-winner in your family?”

To which Mpengesi replied: “It’s not the first time I’m hearing this accusation, it’s been going on for some time now. It must be from my enemies who want to tarnish my image. I can tell you one thing, I’ve never entered a bread competition. I will sue anyone who says I’m a bread-winner, including you journalists.”

You can find out more about Mpengesi by clicking on the video link within the story.

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